Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) recovers and returns it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter during an NFL wild-card playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals. Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bengals' season-saving play given 'fantastic' name

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 1/17/23

Things were looking grim for the Bengals' 2022 season late in their wild-card matchup with the Ravens. Then, DE Sam Hubbard made the play of the year for Cincinnati to save its season.

With Baltimore knocking on the door of the end zone, Hubbard took a fumble the length of the field for a touchdown. Since, the play has received a lot of names, but the most popular has been "The Fumble in the Jungle."

I saw someone call this play “The Fumble in the Jungle” and I think we should make that official.

Fantastic name. pic.twitter.com/BwMXgOK19F
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 17, 2023

Hubbard's 98-yard fumble return for a touchdown is the longest go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter in NFL postseason history and the longest fumble return touchdown in postseason history, per NFL Research.

It was a special play made by a special player in what was a storybook ending. Hubbard has spent his entire football career in Ohio, from high school to college to the NFL, becoming a hometown hero.

Sam Hubbard has spent his entire football career in the state of Ohio.

• Archbishop Moeller High School (2010-14)
• Ohio State (2014-17)
• Cincinnati Bengals (2018-present)

The hometown kid is a hometown hero. pic.twitter.com/tA2BVXNwCw
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) January 16, 2023

"The Fumble in the Jungle" kept the Bengals' season alive in hopes of making it back to the Super Bowl, where they lost a year ago to the Los Angeles Rams. Cincinnati is now set to face the Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs.

If the Bengals want to continue their journey to a ring, the defense may need to create more game-changing plays in Buffalo.

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